Pintrest is fun....Pintrest has great ideas!

I'm not BIG into Pintrest, but the other night, I could NOT stop surfing.  I found a great looking pouch that was a free pattern and I had to try it out.

I jotted down the important info, and relied on my memory to put this little pouch together!  It is from Quarter Inch Mark.

Here again, I used 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 squares for each front.  It does have a 'bottom' piece, too.

I quilted the top and lining together at once.   Any time I can save a step, I'm there!

These are the side panels.  Again, I quilted them together after sewing the top seam and pressing into place.  When you are done, you cut into a 3 x 3 1/2 piece and measure in 1/4" from the bottom corner to the top corner to slant the sides.

Baste it into place centered to the side of the bag with wrong sides together.  Next you attach the sides in the same way.  Now you take your binding and cover the raw edges on each side.  It really isn't difficult.

Then you add the binding over the zipper on the top.  Your zipper will stick over about 1 1/2" at each end.  You then apply tabs over each zipper end and you are done!

I did not add any pockets to the inside.  It would be super simple to do if you wanted to.  These are actually a really good size for a lot of uses.  Measuring 4 1/4" H x 10 1/2"W x 2 1/2" D.

Linking to: Let's Bee Social over at Sew Fresh Quilts!!

A fantastic time away and unpluged!

Last week I had the privilege of attending a little "retreat" at a friends' mountain home in Yosemite, CA.!  There were only 3 of us, so it was very relaxing and productive.  The food and fellowship flowed freely, and the scenery was breathtaking.

 First  line of business was to make a new liner for this basket.  These beautiful fabrics are from my good friend Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts!  Thanks again Lorna!

 Don't you just love this cheery  cover?

 Second line of business was to complete this top that I had started at the February Retreat in the Pines.  I did complete the top, but we all decided that it needed additional work.  I'll show more at a later date!

 Then I dug out this beautiful pattern and fabric.

 I can't wait to put the applique flowers on and show it completed.

 This quilt was supposed to be a quilt, but I sub-cut the strips wrong, therefore it ended up a table runner!  Making 'lemons out of lemonade'!!



 These antique 'grandma's fan' blocks are a new project that Dotty gave me.  Most of the squares were complete, but I had to hand applique these few onto the white squares.  I will be finishing the flimsy soon.  This quilt will be small stitch quilted by the NFQ.

 Look who came to visit right outside the front door.....Bambi!

 And the last project that I started was this beautiful medallion queen sized quilt.  I only finished the center medallion, and had to unsew and resew this silly thing 3 times!

 This is from the kitchen window!  I told you that the scenery was breathtaking.

 These are the completed projects for the week.

This shows the sewing area we had!  Now I have to get to work to finish all the projects I started!  Thank you Dotty and Cindy for welcoming me and making me feel so special all week!

 

Linking to: Let's Bee Social! with the wonderful Lorna as hostess at Sew Fresh Quilts.

                   WIP Wednesday! over at Freshly Pieced Modern Quilts with Lee as hostess.                 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, this one IS mine....really!

I've been talking about "Sew Together" bags, and haven't made myself one yet.  Well, I have finally made one for me with fabric that I received from Cindy for my birthday!

First....look at some super happy mail that I received from www.zipit.etsy.com .  This is my first order ever with them and I am more then happy with these zippers!!  I think I smiled for 3 days after receiving these bright and happy zips!

 

Now I was ready to make my "Sew Together" bag for ME!

 

I used 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 in squares to make a fun patchwork outside to my bag.  I used 4 different colors of zippers.  It makes such a happy bag!  I also used a different fabric for each component of this bag.

I am still working on getting my binding nice and straight, but I am thrilled with this little pouch over all.

Here is a quick pic of the 2 zipper pouch and the sew together bag!  I think these make a cute pair.

Linking to: Anything Goes Monday with Marileze at Stitch by Stitch!

A very special friend deserves a "Vicki" purse!

 

While shopping at Joann the other day, a very special friend said that she was struggling with what color she wanted her "Vicki" purse!  Well, I can take a hint as well as anyone, and these are the colors she was mentioning.  I asked her about a few details that she might want in a new purse and set out to make it as special as I possibly could.

I used the same pattern I had used with mine, and got it cut out and pieced in no time.  I decided to keep the quilting simple on this one.

This little tool is one I am anxious to share with you.  I have been using this tool for years, and didn't realize how much I would be using it in making bags and such.  It is called a "Dritz Loop Turner".  I found them on Amazon for $4.78.  If you don't have one...I highly recommend you get one.  Especially if you do applique.

You get the little pointy part into the fabric about 1/3 in. down from the top. Hook the loop over the top of the fabric, pull to lock the fabric corner in and begin tugging...slowly.

Pretty soon you will have the end of the fabric peeking through the bottom of your tube and you can work it out the rest of the way.  Now just manipulate this tube and press it flat!  These are the tabs for the handles that the 'D' rings are in.

Here is this simple casual purse.  It is the perfect size for everyday use.

I decided to put a little bit of red behind the tag so that it would show up on the inside.

This purse also has feet on the bottom.  It measures 11"Hx12"Wx5"D.  It was so much fun to make this for her.  Shhhhh...it is a surprise!

Linking to: WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced Modern Quilts!

A tisket, a tasket, a blue and yellow...purse!

I had a great time working on this fun purse!  I used the same pattern for this purse as I have done for 2 before it, yet, each one is just a little different.  Go figure!

This purse is a commission purse.  All she asked for was yellow and blue.  I found this fabric at JoAnn.  I love that it isn't white/white, and that it has several variations of blue and yellow!

Here I am adding the accent fabric to the strap.

You can see that I did an outline quilting of all the flowers.  I love the dimension it gives the outside.

Here I'm making the blind pockets for the front and back of the outside of the purse.  You can go HERE to read a tutorial about installing blind pockets!

Here she is, waiting for her lining.

Fitting the lining into the bag, right sides together.

The lining is in, the zipper is in and you can see the two inside pockets. 

A top shot of the zipper.

And here she is in all of her glory!  I sure hope that she likes it...keeping my fingers crossed!!

It measures: 8 1/2 in high x 12 in wide x 5 in deep.  It is definitely a good size.

Linking to: Let's Bee Social! with Lorna as our hostess with the mostess!!